Meg Quinn, of Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, talked to me at the recent BioBlitz in the Saguaro National Park about the scourge that’s blighting much of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona — a tough alien grass that’s taken hold and threatening the native ecosystem.

Pima County is one of many government authorities and private activist groups driving awareness campaigns about buffelgrass and other exotic plants invading the desert. The African grass is said to have been introduced to the American Southwest as a new type of robust plant for cattle to forage. Now it has taken root, closing in open spaces between native plants, smothering them and presenting fire hazards. Even the iconic species of Saguaro National Park, the towering saguaro cactus, is threatened as it does not easily survive wildfires fueled by buffelgrass.

Saguaro National Park Superintendent Darla Sidles told me in this interview that buffelgrass is one of of the biggest threats to the park, and a lot of effort was needed just to keep it in check. Outside the park and other protected areas, the weed is spreading through the Sonoran Desert.

Buffelgrass is a “very aggressive grass, and it pushes out our native plants and it’s also a serious fire threat,” Quinn told me in the interview on this post. A lot of volunteer groups go out and pull the grass. “The only way to get rid of it really is to dig it up; you have to get the whole plant, including the root,” Quinn said. The plant can also be sprayed with an herbicide when it is still green.

“I think the grass is here to stay, unfortunately,” Quinn said. “But we have to manage it … and not let it take over, because the consequences could really be disastrous.”

Volunteers are encouraged to adopt areas of the desert to manage the grass by organizing groups to remove the grass and then monitoring the situation. But even if you are not moved to help remove alien plants from the environment, one thing that everyone can do is avoid buying and planting exotic species. “We have a lot of beautiful native grasses, so we try to encourage people to think about landscaping with natives,” Quinn said.

Informational video about buffelgrass and its threat to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem by MrBFilms:

David Braun is director of outreach with the digital and social media team illuminating the National Geographic Society’s explorer, science, and education programs.

He edits National Geographic Voices, hosting a global discussion on issues resonating with the Society’s mission and major initiatives. Contributors include grantees and Society partners, as well as universities, foundations, interest groups, and individuals dedicated to a sustainable world. More than 50,000 readers have participated in 10,000 conversations.

Post a comment

National Geographic Voices

Researchers, conservationists, and others share stories, insights and ideas about our living planet's rapidly changing geography. More than 50,000 comments have been added to 10,000 posts. Explore the list alongside to dive deeper into some of the most popular categories of the National Geographic Society's conversation platform Voices.

Opinions are those of the blogger and/or the blogger's organization, and not necessarily those of the National Geographic Society. Posters and commenters are required to observe National Geographic's community rules and other terms of service.

Voices director: David Braun (dbraun@ngs.org)

Fighting Wildlife Crime: The Unsung Heroes

Journalist and National Geographic Fellow Bryan Christy uses investigative journalism to expose illegal wildlife trafficking around the globe. In this video he introduces a a series of interviews with the people fighting wildlife crime on the front lines.

Blog Search

Search for:

Fulbright-National Geographic

The Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship provides a unique platform for U.S. Fulbright awardees to build awareness of transnational challenges, comparing and contrasting cross-border issues. Their stories are shared on National Geographic digital platforms using a variety of digital storytelling tools, including text, photography, video, audio, graphic illustrations and/or social media. Meet the Fellows and follow their adventures across the world on the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling blog.

Follow the links on the sidebar of any of the blog's pages for details and tips on how to apply for a Fellowship.

Photo of the 2016/2017 class of Fellows by Randall Scott.

Featured Research: Mushara Elephant Project

Caitlin O'Connell and her husband, Tim Rodwell, started the Mushara Elephant Project in Namibia 24 years ago to better understand elephant social structure, communication and health in order to apply this knowledge to improved care in captivity and ultimately to elephant conservation in the wild. O’Connell is on the faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine and CEO of the elephant-focused nonprofit, Utopia Scientific. A grantee of the National Geographic Society, she is also an award-winning author of six books about elephants. Read Caitlin's dispatches from Mushara.

Nat Geo Expedition: Rising Star

Two years after being discovered deep in a South African cave, the 1,500 fossils excavated during the Rising Star Expedition have been identified as belonging to a previously unknown early human relative that National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger and team have named Homo naledi.

With at least 15 individuals of all ages and both sexes represented, the find adds an unprecedented amount of information to our understanding of early human evolution in Africa.

In addition, the absence of any other animal remains or large debris in the fossil chamber strongly suggests that these non-human beings intentionally deposited their dead within this cave.